Abstract: In successive cycles of movement of packing panel means in a hopper, refuse is stuffed at high pressures into a progressively narrowed throat in the hopper and is churned, fragmented and compacted during such stuffing operation. At positions beyond the throat, the refuse is directed at reduced pressures through the passage into a storage body. When the pressure of the refuse in the passage reaches a particular value, a servo obtains the movement of an ejection panel in a direction to relieve such pressure. A retainer panel is movable, in accordance with the cyclic movement of the packing panel means through the hopper, between a first position opening the passage and a second position closing the passage and is disposed in the first position to define an extension of the passage. A distance accommodating human fingers is provided between the edge on the packing panel means and a curved inner surface in the hopper at a point adjacent to a sill in the hopper.

Abstract: A refuse compaction apparatus including a hopper and a panel rotatably positioned for movement through the hopper. The panel has a body with a generally elliptical cross-sectional configuration and a high torque-transmitting capability. Drive means are connected to only one end of the panel with the drive means imparting a rotational force to the panel at said one end, which force is transmitted throughout the panel by the generally elliptically-shaped body.A refuse compaction apparatus having a container for storing refuse under pressure and means for pressurizing refuse within the container. The container includes a first rigid frame positioned at one end and a second rigid frame positioned at the other end of the container. A plurality of longitudinal members interconnect the first and second frames and a plurality of flexible metal sheet members enclose the container with the sheet members being supported by the first and second frames and by the longitudinal members.

Abstract: Refuse compaction includes a storage body having an opening at one end for receiving refuse and having an opening at the other end. An ejection panel is movable in the storage body between the openings at the opposite ends. Hydraulic means including a cylinder, a piston and a support member are operatively coupled to the ejection panel for producing a movement of the ejection panel between the openings at the opposite ends of the storage body. Means are operatively coupled to the ejection panel, the support member and the hydraulic means for producing a pivotal movement of the support member and a displacement of the hydraulic means in the direction of movement of the ejection panel to minimize the displacement required between the cylinder and the piston for moving the ejection panel.

Abstract: In successive cycles of movement of packing panel means in a hopper, refuse is stuffed at high pressures into a progressively narrowed throat in the hopper and is churned, fragmented and compacted during such stuffing operation. At positions beyond the throat, the refuse is directed at reduced pressures through the passage into a storage body. When the pressure of the refuse in the passage reaches a particular value, a servo obtains the movement of an ejection panel in a direction to relieve such pressure. A retainer panel is movable, in accordance with the cyclic movement of the packing panel means through the hopper, between a first position opening the passage and a second position closing the passage and is disposed in the first position to define an extension of the passage. A distance accomodating human fingers is provided between an edge on the packing panel means and a curved inner surface in the hopper at a point adjacent to a sill in the hopper.

Abstract: A front end loader which includes a refuse storage body mounted on a supporting vehicle with the storage body having an upper opening for the deposit of refuse within the body. Means are provided on the vehicle for picking up a refuse container and lifting the container to dump refuse therefrom into the storage body through the upper opening. Closure means are positioned adjacent the upper opening. Closure means are positioned adjacent the upper opening with the closure means being movable between an open and a closed position. The closure means are shaped and positioned to shield the opening from the wind when the closure means is in its open position and means are provided to exert a downward packing force on the closure means in moving it from its open to its closed position to exert a positive downward packing force on refuse which is contacted by the closure means.

Abstract: A container in which trash may be stored until such time as the container can be dumped into a truck for transportation to a sanitary disposal site. Trash may be inserted and compacted within the container by a compactor unit formed integrally with or fixedly attached to the container. The compactor unit includes a hopper into which trash may be dumped. A packing panel may be pivotally mounted to move through the hopper to push the trash into the container and compact it therein. The packing panel may move from a position in which the hopper is fully opened to a position in which the panel serves as a door to close the hopper and prevent access to the hopper. The panel can be moved from the "door" position to a third position approximately 180.degree. from the fully opened position. In the third position, the panel has moved all of the trash out of the hopper and into the container.

Abstract: A refuse compactor which includes a refuse storage body and a compaction panel movable within the storage body to give refuse within said body an initial pack.A latching mechanism includes a refuse storage body having a rear opening with a tailgate pivotally positioned on the storage body for closing the rear opening. Hydraulic motor means rotate the tailgate from a lowered, locked position with respect to the storage body to a raised, unlocked position for discharge of refuse by the compaction panel from the storage body through the rear opening. The motor means are connected to the lever means and also to the tailgate. A keeper member is secured to the tailgate while a latching member pivotally mounted on the storage body engages the keeper member when the tailgate engages the refuse storage body. Means transmit rotational movement of the lever means to the latching member with the lever member undergoing rotational movement on actuation of the motor means.

Abstract: A front end loader includes a refuse storage body mounted on a supporting vehicle with the storage body having an upper opening for the deposit of refuse within the body. Closure members are movable between opened and closed positions adjacent the upper opening. The closure members shield the opening from the wind in their opened position and exert a downward packing force in moving from the opened to the closed position. The downward packing force is increased as the closure members approach the closed position. The free ends of the closure members provide a shearing action on the refuse overhanging the opening. Latching members latch the closure members to the storage body in the closed position of the closure member and move upwardly toward the opened position. The latching members may include first members on the storage body engageable with, and disengageable from, second members on the closure members.

Abstract: A front end loader includes a storage body mounted on a vehicle with an upper opening for the deposit of refuse therein. Lifting arms are pivotally mounted relative to the storage body and vehicle and are moved by a first hydraulic motor. Fork arms are pivotally mounted on the distal ends of the lifting arms and are moved by a second hydraulic motor. Members feed hydraulic fluid to the second motor at a rate which maintains the fork arms in a horizontal position as the lifting arms are moving. Fluid flows from the first motor through the second motor to provide a movement of the fork arms in accordance with the lifting of the lifting arms. The volume of the rod ends of a first hydraulic cylinder in the first motor is related to the volume of the rod ends of hydraulic cylinders in the second motor to provide for the flow of fluid through the first cylinder relative to the flow of fluid through the cylinders in the second motor to maintain the fork arms horizontal during the lifting of the lifting arms.

Abstract: A storage body is mounted on a vehicle having an upper opening to receive refuse. Lifting arms are pivotally mounted to relative to the body and are pivoted by a first hydraulic motor. Fork arms are pivotally mounted on the distal ends of the lifting arms and are pivoted by a second hydraulic motor. Fluid from the first motor flows through the second motor to provide a movement of the fork arms in accordance with the lifting of the lifting arms. The volume of the rod ends of a first cylinder in the first motor is related to the volume of the rod ends of the cylinders in the second motor to provide for the flow of fluid through the first cylinder relative to the flow of fluid through the cylinders to maintain the fork arms horizontally during the lifting of the lifting arms. The movement of the fork arms is inhibited during the lowering of the lifting arms to facilitate the retention of containers on the form arms. The lifting arms are maintained in position when an obstruction is encountered.

Abstract: A method for packing refuse which comprises moving a foldable packing member from a folded rest position to an unfolded working condition within a refuse hopper then moving the packing member in an unfolded condition through the refuse hopper to move refuse from the hopper. Following this, the movement of the packing member is reversed to move the packing member in a partially folded condition through the hopper to return the packing member to its folded rest position.

Abstract: A refuse packer having a refuse storage body, a loading hopper and a passage leading from the hopper to the storage body with a collapsible packing means mounted within the hopper. The packing means is movable from the collapsed rest position to an extended working condition to sweep refuse from the hopper into the passage. Additionally, the packing means is movable in a return direction while in a partially collapsed condition to return to its collapsed rest position. During the movement of the packing means through the hopper in a return direction, the packing means is capable of moving over refuse within the loading hopper. Motor means in driving connection with the packing means move the packing means in an extended working condition through the hopper and then move the packing means in return direction while in a partially collapsed condition to return the packing means to its collapsed rest position.

Abstract: A refuse collection apparatus including a storage body and a tailgate positioned rearwardly of the storage body which defines a hopper that is positioned adjacent to an opening into the storage body. An upper and a lower panel within the tailgate are pivotally connected and movably positioned with respect to the hopper. The upper panel is moved in a downward and rearward convexly curved path between an upward and forward position and a rearward and lowered position and the lower panel is rotated forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the upper panel. A fixed panel positioned in the tailgate structure defines the upper extent of the opening into the storage body and during upward movement of the upper panel, refuse is packed against the fixed panel.The lower surface of the fixed panel may have an upwardly curved lower surface which imparts a forward direction of movement to refuse which is packed against it.

Abstract: A control system for plural motor driven pumps is disclosed. The control system includes a control valve which provides for unloading one pump by diverting the flow of operating fluid from that pump back to reservoir whenever the flow through the valve or the load pressure exceeds a preselected level.

Abstract: A refuse collection apparatus including a storage body and a tailgate positioned rearwardly of the storage body which defines a hopper that is positioned adjacent to an opening into the storage body. An upper and a lower panel within the tailgate are pivotally connected and movably positioned with respect to the hopper. The upper panel is moved in a downward and rearward convexly curved path between an upward and forward position and a rearward and lowered position and the lower panel is rotated forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the upper panel. A fixed panel positioned in the tailgate structure defines the upper extent of the opening into the storage body and during upward movement of the upper panel, refuse is packed against the fixed panel.The lower surface of the fixed panel may have an upwardly curved lower surface which imparts a forward direction of movement to refuse which is packed against it.

Abstract: A storage body for containing refuse under pressure in which the top of the storage body is uniformly curved to provide a curvature which resists in tension the outer forces exerted on the top by the side walls of the body when the storage body is packed with refuse under a predetermined pressure. A plurality of bracing members are positioned in parallel relation on the side walls of the storage body. The side bracing members are closer together in the region of the storage body which is adjacent to an opening through which refuse is packed.

Abstract: A refuse compactor includes a refuse storage body, a compaction panel movable within the storage body to give refuse within said body an initial pack and a stuffer panel movable within said body to provide the refuse with a secondary pack.The stuffer panel may apply a higher packing pressure to the refuse than the compaction panel.The secondary pack applied to refuse by the stuffer panel has an upward component of movement with a greater upward inclination than the packing force applied to the refuse through movement of the compaction panel thereby offsets the gravitational effect of increased densification of refuse in the lower portion of the refuse storage body.First and second hydraulic motor means are respectively connected to the compaction panel and the stuffer panel.

Abstract: A vehicle having a particular area in proximity thereto which is dangerous to personnel when the vehicle is performing a particular function is combined with a personnel detection means mounted on the vehicle and having characteristics for providing an electrical output signal in response to the presence of a person in the particular area. Apparatus associated with the particular function is mounted on the vehicle and responsive to the output signal of the personnel detection means to inhibit the particular function and reduce the danger to the person in the particular area.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for operating an auxiliary hydraulic load at low noise levels. A pump having a capacity which is sufficiently large to supply the load with the necessary volume of hydraulic fluid at relatively low pump speeds is driven by an engine operating at a speed near its idling speed. Throttle control means control the fuel supply to the engine at a level sufficient to drive the pump while maintaining the engine speed near its idling speed. When the engine speed is increased to a predetermined level in excess of its idling speed, means are provided to maintain the output from the pump at or below a predetermined flow rate to not overload the pump means or the auxiliary load. The pump may include a variable displacement pump or a plurality of fixed displacement pumps with means to vary the pump output in response to the pressure demand from the auxiliary load to maintain the torque input requirements for the pump below a predetermined level.